Directions: With these practice questions, you will show how well you can read and

understand written English. For each question, mark the letter of the correct answer on
your answer sheet.

1. I started young. Did

they tell you that? At
twelve, I went to work
on the railroad,
He was selling candy and
newspapers to passengers.
Soon I started my
newspaper.
Of course, I printed
it and sold it on the
train! But, even
then, I had a mind
for business.
Early on, I invented things, too.
Directions: With these practice questions, you will show how well you can read and
understand written English. For each question, mark the letter of the correct answer on
your answer sheet.

2 Yes, it was my destiny to

be an inventor. I
invented thousands of
things, including
A better telegraph, the
phonograph, light bulbs, And
motion pictures. (You call them
movies.)

3 My ideas didn't always work.

But sometimes, you have to gamble,
take a chance.
Like cement furniture.
I thought people would love it!
But they scoffed at my
cement couch. Oh, well.
People did buy my light
bulbs.
And they still love movies!

Where did Thomas Alva Edison sell candy?

A In a store
B on a train
C on a street corner
D in a movie theater

Based on this poem, it is TRUE that Edison-

A disliked movies.
B manufactured candy.
C used only cement chairs.
D sold his own newspapers.
Directions: With these practice questions, you will show how well you can read and
understand written English. For each question, mark the letter of the correct answer on
your answer sheet.

Which sentence from this poem is an OPINION?

A "Did they tell you that?"
B "Early on, I invented things, too.
C "My ideas didn't always work."
D "I thought people would love it!"

Based on this poem, why did Thomas Alva Edison invent things?
A He disliked selling newspapers.
B He preferred reliable machines.
C He wanted modern entertainment.
D He did what came naturally to him.